Learning objectives
Understanding of theoretical foundations and methods of investigation of human geography.
Critical analysis of cartography.
Acquisition of the main tools for the interpretation of Italian landscapes, their conservation and management.
At the end of the course the students acquire useful knowledge to understand theoretical foundations and methods of investigation of human geography; for the critical analysis of cartography; for the acquisition of the main tools in the interpretation of the landscape, his conservation and management.
Students will be able to apply knowledge and comprehension skills in the field of geography through the use of different sources (books and articles of a scientific nature, cartographic and iconographic sources, multimedia materials, etc.) concerning basic subjects of the discipline as well as advanced research elements in this field.
Knowledge and understanding:
students will develop knowledge and comprehension competence useful for the critical analysis of the main local and global geographic problems, also in a didactic and communicative perspective (scholastic, popular and academic publishing).
Making judgements:
students will be able to collect and interpret data to determine
autonomous judgements in in the field of geographical analysis, including cross-cultural and interdisciplinary thinking on cultural and
intercultural, scientific and ethical topics connected to the judgements
expressed (sustainability of development, environmental issue, management and safeguarding of cultural landscapes etc.).
Communication skills:
students will be able to convey information, ideas, problems and solutions to
specialists and non in the field of analysis of historical cartography, territorial and landscape systems and of geographical relations in local, national and global scale.
Students can make conclusions clearly and through the support of their knowledge.
Learning skills:
thanks to the disciplinary cross of the topics covered during the course, students will develop the learning skills necessary to continue to acquire knowledge, in an autonomous and mainly self-directed way.
Prerequisites
Students must have achieved a sufficient historical and geographical training in the previous scholastic curriculum.
Course unit content
The course aims to offer to the students the fundamental knowledge of human geography: nodal concepts; sources; methods of investigation.
In particular, two issues closely related to current demands in the field of conservation of cultural heritage will be addressed: the critical analysis of cartography and, more in general, the use of iconographic sources (pictorial, photographic, etc.) for the study of historical and cultural landscapes, with particular attention to the relationship between agriculture, local productions and practices, environment.
Full programme
Dear students,
given the health emergency we are experiencing, we will not be able to attend the course in attendance, except for new communications, for now.
To try to minimize your inconvenience I decided to make available, through this page of the Elly platform (https://elly.dusic.unipr.it/2019/course/view.php?id=270), the teaching materials corresponding to the topics that I would have done in class and that will serve to integrate the study of the volumes in the program (these are listed below and, together with the complete course specifications, at https://www.unipr.it / Ugov / degreecourse / 179674).
The materials are organized as follows:
1- Introductory videos, in which you can listen to an introduction to the scheduled materials and topics covered in the individual lessons;
2- Presentations relating to the topics of the lessons in PDF format;
3- A selection of the didactic units foreseen for the “blended” course which will be useful for you to deepen some topics (for example the relationship between environment-territory and landscape or the constitutive rules of cartography).
The materials will be made available progressively, every week, until the end of the course.
If any topic is particularly "difficult" to understand, I am available - upon your request - to organize single video lessons in streaming through the Teams platform. In the event, please organize yourself by groups and contact me in advance at:
carloalberto.gemignani@unipr.it
At the same address I am available via Skype, during my office hours:
Tuesday 11-13.
Bibliography
- Paolo Baldeschi, “Paesaggio e territorio”, Le Lettere, Firenze, 2014.
- R. Pazzagli, G. Bonini, "Italia contadina. Dall'esodo rurale al ritorno alla campagna", Aracne, Ariccia (RM), 2018.
- John Brian Harley, “Carte, sapere e potere”, in Paul Laxton (ed.), “The new nature of maps”, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimora, Maryland, Stati Uniti, pp. 51-81, Italian translation by Massimo Rossi.
- John Brian Harley, “Testo e contesti nell’interpretazione delle mappe antiche”, in Paul Laxton (ed.), “The new nature of maps”, John Hopkins University Press, Baltimora, Maryland, Stati Uniti, pp. 33-49, Italian translation by Massimo Rossi.
Previous two texts in program will be available on the platform https://elly.dusic.unipr.it/2019/course/view.php?id=270
Teaching methods
Active lectures in which will be guaranteed a wide space for discussion and exchange of ideas related with the main topics presented during the two modules. The lecture of supplementary books and texts and the consultation of press news (also online) related to covered topics are encouraged. Due to the nature of the lesson cycle, the frequency to the class is to be considered essential.
The course will also be offered in a blended way on the distance learning platform called Elly.
Assessment methods and criteria
ATTENTION: until the duration of the health emergency due to the COVID19 epidemic, it will be necessary to carry out the examination in oral form, through the Teams platform and according to the methods that have already been communicated to you (you can find them on the page https: // www .unipr.it / node / 27981).
The examination will take place, normally, in written form and will consist in ascertaining the knowledge acquired on the basis of the indicated bibliography. The written test (time available 1,30 hours) consists of a series of open-ended questions, which concern the chapters of the volumes and / or essays in program.
A fail is determined by the lack of an understanding of the minimum content of the course, the inability to express oneself adequately, by a lack of autonomous preparation, the inability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as an inability to make independent judgment.
For the evaluation - expressed in thirtieths -, we take into account the originality of the answers to open questions, the use of appropriate terminology and mastery of the geographical lexicon, the ability to argue, control of arguments and critical judgment. The formal correctness of the text is also a prerequisite for a correct evaluation.
A pass (18-23/30) is determined by the student’s possession of the minimum, fundamental contents of the course, an adequate level of autonomous preparation
and ability to solve problems related to information retrieval and the decoding of complex texts, as well as an acceptable level of ability in making independent judgments. Middle-range scores (24-27/30) are assigned to the student who produces evidence of a more than sufficient level (24-25/30) or good level (26-27/30) in the evaluation indicators listed above. Higher scores (from 28/30 to 30/30 cum laude) are awarded on the basis of the student’s demonstration of a very good or excellent level in the evaluation indicators listed above.
If you do not reach the minimum score of 18/30 or wish to improve the vote, you can repeat the test in the following call.
Other information
Students will benefit of supplementary teaching activities (seminars) whose unwinding mode will be discussed during the course.
Is provided a teaching methodology both in presence and remotely (e-learning "blended").
